Results 4,501-4,520 of 4,718 for speaker:Malcolm Noonan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Treatment (Abstractions) Bill 2020 and Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (22 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: My connection dropped out for a moment. I think the first point the Senator raised was on the publication of research.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Treatment (Abstractions) Bill 2020 and Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (22 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The commission will report directly to the Houses of the Oireachtas. It will have to produce a three-year strategy. It is absolutely vital to have the data and quantitative and qualitative research element there. It is a well-made point. On the issue of local elections and pre-registration for those aged 16 and 17, it is my understanding that voting for 16-year-olds could be introduced...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Treatment (Abstractions) Bill 2020 and Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (22 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Regarding available resources, as Mr. Ryan has outlined, the commission will be funded by its own Vote. A chief executive is responsible for implementing the policies and decisions of the commission. I ask Mr. Ryan to address that, the other amendment that the Chairman proposes and the electoral areas.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Treatment (Abstractions) Bill 2020 and Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (22 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The voter participation element is absolutely critical. The commission will have the ability to look at other jurisdictions that are good examples, such as New Zealand. That will certainly be in its remit and it is a vital part of it. This is about getting young people, other hard to reach groups and minorities, including the Traveller community, and everyone else involved in our electoral...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Treatment (Abstractions) Bill 2020 and Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (22 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I will take the first issue. As far as I am aware, the area around online advertising is really around transparency in regard to who is paying for the advertisement. In a sense, we are probably the first jurisdiction to legislate for this, which is important. Mr. Ryan alluded to the issue around freedom of expression and the content of such advertisements, but what this is really about is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Treatment (Abstractions) Bill 2020 and Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (22 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The first-year costs came in at between €2.25 million and €2.7 million. These are start-up costs, salaries and ongoing costs. There have been subsequent costs of approximately €1.5 million to €1.7 million per annum. It is quite modest. Additional costs could be anticipated as the commission would ramp up its activities over the years and be in the mix for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Treatment (Abstractions) Bill 2020 and Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (22 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank Deputy Gould. I might let Ms Woods take the issues of the voter registration. I agree wholeheartedly with the Deputy on voting in disadvantaged areas. There is a significant job of work to be done, not only by the commission but other actors, in terms of community development projects in public participation networks, PPNs, or local community development committees, LCDCs, at local...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Treatment (Abstractions) Bill 2020 and Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (22 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: It is a good point. We will certainly take note of those points about those hard-to-reach groups.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Treatment (Abstractions) Bill 2020 and Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (22 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Deputy for those impassioned and important points. To be clear, in respect of the regulation of online political advertising, the Bill relates strictly to electoral events and the intention is to have transparency in regard to who is paying for the advertisements. The Deputy mentioned EU level, where there are policy areas relating to the content of online advertising. This...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Treatment (Abstractions) Bill 2020 and Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (22 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: It is an excellent point. It is perhaps something the commission could look into. It is certainly not dealt with here but it is a valid point. We will take it on board.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Treatment (Abstractions) Bill 2020 and Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (22 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I thank the Deputy and I will allow Ms Woods to come in on the issue of the postal vote, which has been raised by a number of Oireachtas Members. The issue of resources for local authorities has been raised on a number of occasions, so it is something we have to give consideration to. Regarding electoral boundaries, I am aware of the area the Deputy referred to in Carlow. The commission...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Water Treatment (Abstractions) Bill 2020 and Electoral Reform Bill 2020: Discussion (22 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The Senator made excellent points. Mr. Ryan might come in on this but generally our ambition with the electoral commission is to start with a specific set of functions and that will be ramped up over time. There is a risk in trying to load too heavy a workload onto it. The Senator makes a really good point in relation to this space. On the issue of digital ad boards, perhaps they could be...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Turf Cutting (21 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Ireland, like all EU Member States, is bound by the requirements of the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive. These Directives aim to ensure the protection of habitats and species which have been selected for conservation within special areas of conservation and special protection areas. Ireland's approach is to recognise the traditional right to cut turf for domestic purposes, while...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (21 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: In 1858, the first successful transatlantic cable was laid between Knightstown, Valentia Island, Co. Kerry, and Heart’s Content in Newfoundland, Canada. Transatlantic communications were operated from the Telegraph Field between 1865 and 1868. Operations were conducted initially from the Wooden Building until the Anglo-American Cable House replaced it between 1866 and 1868. Thereafter,...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (21 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: The cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme was established in 2011 for active domestic turf cutters arising from the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation and was extended in 2014 to include raised bog natural heritage areas. This scheme is applicable to turf cutters who have been affected by the designation of raised bogs as special areas of...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Special Areas of Conservation (21 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I am acutely aware of the difficulties being faced by householders in the local area with respect to the threat of flooding at Lough Funshinagh. Policy and its implementation concerning flood risk management is primarily the responsibility of the Office of Public Works and the local authority and I understand that they have considered the options available. In the context of the designation...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Heritage Sites (21 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 149 together. My role with regard to the protection and management of our archaeological and architectural heritage is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, including the Planning Acts and the National Monuments Acts, as are the roles of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners. As Minister, I am the owner or guardian under the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (21 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: 431. To ask the Minister for Health the position of carers of children with type 1 diabetes on the list of those to be vaccinated (details supplied); if he will protect this vulnerable group by ensuring that their carers are prioritised on the vaccination list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3314/21]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Conversation Issues (20 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: I am advised that a decision will issue in this case imminently.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Postal Voting (20 Jan 2021)

Malcolm Noonan: Postal voting is provided for in electoral law in respect of a number of categories of electors, including: - Irish diplomats serving abroad and their spouses/civil partners, - whole-time members of the Defence Forces, - members of An Garda Síochána, - electors living at home who are unable to vote because of a physical illness or a physical disability, - certain election staff...